Ukraine enhanced the cybersecurity readiness of critical infrastructure in line with the EU standards

Ukraine boosted its cyber resilience and strengthened the protection of critical infrastructure by aligning national practices with newly adopted legislation and European standards, and equipped 380 specialists with the knowledge and skills needed to meet evolving challenges. 

These efforts are part of the project “Cybersecurity Readiness for Critical Infrastructure in Ukraine”, implemented by the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine (SSSCIP) and the e-Governance Academy (eGA) with the support of the Governments of the United States and Estonia.

The project’s results were presented at the final event on 29 October. Opening the event, Oleksandr Potii, Chairman of the SSSCIP, emphasised the strategic importance of developing cybersecurity capabilities for Ukraine’s defence.

“The protection of critical infrastructure is a matter of national security for our state and for the partner countries that support Ukraine today. Training specialists responsible for critical infrastructure protection is crucial in wartime, as Ukraine seeks new approaches to this issue in response to the Russian Federation’s constantly changing tactics for kinetic strikes on our nation’s critical infrastructure. I am grateful to the people and governments of the United States and Estonia for their support of this project, and especially to our long-standing partner, the e-Governance Academy,” said Oleksandr Potii.

The project’s primary objective was to equip SSSCIP specialists and critical infrastructure operators with the knowledge, skills, and tools required to safeguard essential systems and services. The training programme, designed and delivered by the Kyiv Aviation Institute in close cooperation with SSSCIP and the e-Governance Academy, introduced participants to Ukraine’s new legislation on critical infrastructure protection and familiarised them with international standards, modern approaches, and emerging developments in this rapidly evolving field.

H.E. Annely Kolk, Ambassador of Estonia to Ukraine, reaffirmed Estonia’s long-term commitment: “Estonia helps Ukraine to meet its most pressing needs in many areas, including cyber, digital transformation, health, education, reforms and reconstruction. I am pleased that this trilateral project brought together experts from Ukraine, Estonia, and the United States, and provided opportunities to learn from each other and, through collaboration, improved our collective cyber resilience.”

In total, 13 training sessions were delivered to over 380 specialists from 53 government bodies and critical infrastructure organisations, covering crisis management, risk assessment, and compliance with national and EU legislation.

Beyond the training, the project fostered broader knowledge exchange and international cooperation. Consultations with international experts, the publication “Strengthening Critical Infrastructure Protection“, summarising European best practices, and a study visit to Estonia provided Ukrainian officials with insights into how resilient societies organise and safeguard their critical infrastructure. Ukrainian experts, in turn, shared their experience in protecting critical systems under wartime conditions.

Hannes Astok, Executive Director of the e-Governance Academy, highlighted the collaboration impact: “The e-Governance Academy has been working with the government of Ukraine for over 10 years, and the project we are concluding today is part of this long journey. Hundreds of Ukrainian specialists now have the expertise to secure the country’s most critical systems. This project builds the foundation for long-term resilience and connects Ukraine to Europe’s cybersecurity ecosystem.” 

The final event gathered over 100 experts and officials from Ukraine and abroad, including Taimar Peterkop, Kristi Purtsak, and Minna Ålander, discussing how lessons from the war, combined with European crisis-management practices, can reinforce Ukraine’s digital defences and align national systems with EU standards.

Project’s key results include:

• 13 training sessions delivered to more than 380 specialists from 53 government and critical infrastructure institutions, covering crisis management, risk assessment, and compliance with national and EU legislation.
• Publication of a publication “Strengthening Critical Infrastructure Protection” – a bilingual guide summarising European and global best practices for crisis management, infrastructure resilience, and the implementation of EU NIS2 and CER directives.

• A study visit to Estonia, during which Ukrainian experts shared their experience in protecting critical infrastructure during a full-scale invasion with Estonian counterparts and learned EU Member States’ approaches to critical infrastructure protection.
• Strengthened cooperation networks among public authorities, defence institutions, and private operators of critical systems.

About U.S. Government Support

The United States remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s digital transformation and cyber defense. Together with partners, the U.S. Government will continue building the foundations of a secure, prosperous, and democratic Ukraine—one capable of withstanding not only physical aggression, but digital assault as well. This project represents a significant milestone in shared efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s cybersecurity resilience and protect the systems that power its economy and daily life. This work is vital—not just to keeping the lights on, but to the broader vision of a peaceful, sovereign, and self-reliant Ukraine. 

The project Cybersecurity Readiness for Critical Infrastructure in Ukraine was focused on enhancing the cybersecurity readiness of Ukrainian authorities and operators of critical infrastructure. The activities were implemented by the e-Governance Academy (Estonia) in cooperation with the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, and financed by the Government of the United States and the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV). The project was implemented from October 2024 to November 2025.